The 2016 BNP Paribas Open men’s singles draw ceremony was held on Tuesday. Thanks to Roger Federer’s absence, Rafael Nadal snagged a top-four seed to avoid any chance of facing Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. Nadal would, however, get Djokovic in the semis if both players advance that far.
Also in the top half of the bracket are Kei Nishikori, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, recent United States Davis Cup hero John Isner, and a red-hot Dominic Thiem. Nadal and Nishikori are in the same quarter along with Isner, while Djokovic could run into Tsonga in the last eight. Tsonga may first have to get past Sam Querrey in the third round and Thiem in the fourth.
The other side of the draw features Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, Richard Gasquet, and Juan Martin Del Potro. Fresh off a Davis Cup spat in Australia, countrymen Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic are on course for what would be a highly-anticipated quarterfinal showdown. But Kyrgios would likely have to upset Murray in the fourth round and Tomic possibly has Milos Raonic and either Berdych or Del Potro in his way.
A big opportunity could be in the cards for Del Potro, who will open with a qualifier prior to a potential date with Berdych in the second round. Berdych suffered a hamstring injury in Davis Cup action last weekend and retired from Sunday’s match against Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Among the intriguing first-round matchups are Taylor Fritz vs. Frances Tiafoe, Alexander Zverev vs. Ivan Dodig, Andreas Seppi vs. Donald Young, Borna Coric vs. Lucas Pouille, Vasek Pospisil vs. Jared Donaldson, and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. Ernests Gulbis.
[polldaddy poll=9339086]
good draw
I think I saw a potential match up between Monfils and Nick, that would be some match!
would be epic
“Nadal would, however, face Djokovic in the semis if both players advance that far.”
#Moot
Voted for Nole ole to win Indian Wells.
Nice draw. But I have a lot of questions about those who took a beating, win or lose, in Davis Cup: Nole, Kukushkin, Andy, Kei, Goffin, Cilic, Thiem, Sousa, Tomic, Pospisil. Then the ones coming off injury like Raonic and del Potro. However, Raonic and Delpo might be in better shape than many of the DC warriors.
Nole over Sock QF, Rafa over Isner QF, Wawrinka over Gasquet QF, Andy over Milos or Delpo QF.
Nole v Rafa, Stan v Andy SF’s
Might change my mind on a few of those in the morning!
Vamos Rafa!
At the moment I kinda doubt Rafa will make the semis. Not really sure what his draw is like but I dunno right now. He needs to at least start the tourney off convincingly. Muller in round two isn’t an easy draw either.
I am not comfortable making any predictions for Rafa here. At least he won’t face Novak until the semis if he has to be in his half of the draw. But he’s got some challenges. A possible meeting with Isner in the quarters doesn’t thrill me either.
I just don’t know what to expect from Rafa after the South American swing. I need to just get a look at him and see how he looks now.
would be foolish to make predictions for rafa. We can only hope..